Methods and Devices for Visually Displaying Countdown Time on Graphical User Interface

ABSTRACT

Provided is a method of visually displaying a countdown time on a graphical user interface. A countdown time is set, the width and opacity of an area that changes as the set time is sequentially counted down are determined, and the area that changes based on the determined width and opacity is output on the graphical user interface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2021-0050122 filed in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office on Apr. 16, 2021, Korean Patent Application No.10-2021-0050137 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Apr.16, 2021, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0050138 filed in theKorean Intellectual Property Office on Apr. 16, 2021, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

One or more embodiments relate to a method and device for visuallydisplaying a countdown time on a graphical user interface.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the development of wireless communication technology, it becamepossible to transmit massive data at a high speed, and thus provision ofnot only a voice call service, but also a video call service is becomingincreasingly common. The video call service refers to a call service fortransmitting and receiving audio signals and video signals between aplurality of terminals.

Users may perform video calls by using portable terminals such assmartphones or smart tablets, and the users performing the video callsmay already know each other or may not know each other.

Meanwhile, when a video call is performed between users who do not knoweach other, the users may feel psychological burdens when connecting toor leaving the video call, and thus a solution is required for the usersto perform the video call more freely.

SUMMARY

One or more embodiments relate to a method and device for visuallydisplaying a countdown time on a graphical user interface.

Problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to theproblems mentioned above. Other unmentioned problems and advantages ofthe present disclosure may be understood by the following description,and will be more clearly understood by embodiments of the presentdisclosure. In addition, it will be appreciated that the problems andadvantages to be solved by the present disclosure may be realized bymeans and combinations thereof indicated in the claims.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may belearned by practice of the presented embodiments of the disclosure.

According to one or more embodiments, an operation method of a firstterminal includes: receiving, from a server, a request for establishinga communication connection between the first terminal and a secondterminal; receiving, from the server, a countdown time as the video callproceeds; receiving, from the server, information on a blocking areathat changes as the countdown time sequentially elapses; and outputtingthe blocking area on a graphical user interface of the first terminalaccording to the received information.

In an embodiment, in the outputting, as the size of the blocking areachanges, the visibility of the image area displayed on the graphicaluser interface of the first terminal changes.

In an embodiment, when the countdown time has elapsed, an image, towhich a response to whether to continue the video call is input, isoutput on the graphical user interface of the first terminal.

In an embodiment, the width of the blocking area may be increased as thepreset time is sequentially counted down.

In an embodiment, the width of the blocking area may be determined bymultiplying the width of the graphical user interface of the firstterminal by a first ratio, and the first ratio may be obtained bydividing the time during which a countdown has been performed by thecountdown time.

In an embodiment, an opacity of the blocking area is increased as thecountdown time is sequentially counted down.

In an embodiment, the opacity of the blocking area may be determined bymultiplying a preset opacity by a second ratio, and the second ratio maybe determined as a value obtained by dividing the time during which acountdown has been performed by the countdown time.

In an embodiment, the image area may include an image of a second userof the second terminal.

In an embodiment, the image area may include an image of a first user ofthe first terminal.

According to one or more embodiments, a computer program productcontrols a graphical user interface with the computer program productincluding a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon aprogram for executing, on a computer receiving, from a server, a requestfor establishing a communication connection between the first terminaland a second terminal; receiving, from the server, a countdown time asthe video call proceeds; receiving, from the server, information on ablocking area that changes as the countdown time sequentially elapses;and outputting the blocking area on a graphical user interface of thefirst terminal according to the received information.

According to one or more embodiments, a device for controlling agraphical user interface of a terminal includes: a memory storing atleast one program; and at least one processor for executing the at leastone program to relay a video call, wherein the at least one processorsets a countdown time as the video call between the first terminal andthe second terminal proceeds, set a blocking area that changes as thepreset time is sequentially counted down, and communicate with the firstterminal and the second terminal so that the blocking area is output ona graphical user interface of each of the first terminal and the secondterminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system including aserver and at least one terminal;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a terminal isprovided with profile information.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example in which matching betweenterminals is completed;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a call is made whenmatching between terminals is completed;

FIGS. 5A-5D illustrates examples of a graphical user interface displayedon a display of a terminal during a call waiting time;

FIG. 6 illustrates another example of a graphical user interfacedisplayed on a display of a terminal during a call waiting time;

FIGS. 7A-7D illustrates examples of a graphical user interface displayedon a display of a terminal while a preliminary call is in progress;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating processes in which a video call is madein a system including a first terminal, a server, and a second terminal,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method of relaying a video call, according toan embodiment; and

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a block diagram of a server.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

General terms currently widely used have been selected as terms used inembodiments, considering functions in the embodiments. However, theterms may vary according to the intention of one of ordinary skill inthe art, precedent cases, or the appearance of new technologies. Also,some terms have been arbitrarily selected for specific cases, and inthis case, the meaning of the selected terms will be described in detailin the detailed description of a corresponding embodiment. Thus, theterms used in the embodiments have to be defined based on the meaningsof the terms together with the description throughout the specification,rather than simple names of the terms.

In the description of embodiments, when a part is “connected” to anotherpart, the part may not only be directly connected to the other part, butmay also be electrically connected to the other part with anotherelement in between. In addition, when a part “includes” a certainelement, the part may further include another element instead ofexcluding the other element, unless otherwise stated.

The terms such as “include”, “comprise”, and the like used in thepresent embodiments should not be construed as necessarily including allof several components or operations described herein, but should beconstrued as not including some components or operations thereamong oras further including additional components or operations.

The description of the following embodiments should not be construed aslimiting the scope of rights, and what can be easily inferred by one ofordinary skill in the art should be construed as belonging to the scopeof the embodiments. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system 1000 including aserver 1100 and at least one terminal.

The system 1000 according to an embodiment may include the server 1100and a plurality of user terminals, i.e., a first terminal 1200 andsecond terminals 1210 to 1240. The first terminal 1200 and the secondterminals 1210 to 1240 are illustrated to be five for convenience, butare not limited thereto.

For example, the system 1000 may be a system that provides a video callservice. The video call service refers to a service in which a pluralityof users may communicate with each other by transmitting their images toother counterparts by using their respective terminals and receivingimages of the counterparts. The users using the video call service mayexchange images and/or voices through their respective terminals, and/ormay transmit and receive text via a chatting function.

The user who intends to use the video call service may directlydesignate a counterpart to make a video call and use the video callservice when the counterpart accepts the video call. Alternatively, theserver 1100 providing the video call service may designate a counterpartrandomly or according to a certain method, and the user may use thevideo call service with the designated counterpart.

The server 1100 and the first terminal 1200 and the second terminals1210 to 1240 may perform communication by using a network. Examples ofthe network may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN), a value-added network (VAN), a mobile radio communicationnetwork, a satellite communication network, and a combination thereof.The network may be a data communication network of various networkentities shown in FIG. 1 to communicate smoothly with each other, andmay include a wired Internet, a wireless Internet, and/or a mobilewireless communication network. Examples of wireless communicationinclude wireless LAN (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, Zigbee,Wi-Fi direct (WFD), ultra-wideband (UWB), infrared data association(IrDA), and near field communication (NFC), but are not limited thereto.

The first terminal 1200 and the second terminals 1210 to 1240 mayinclude a smartphone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a PC, a smarttelevision (TV), a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), alaptop computer, a media player, a micro server, a global positioningsystem (GPS) device, an electronic book terminal, a digital broadcastterminal, a navigation device, a kiosk, an MP3 player, a digital camera,a home appliance, a camera-equipped device, and another mobile ornon-mobile computing device, but are not limited thereto.

The server 1100 may be a relay device that connects the first terminal1200 and the second terminals 1210 to 1240 with each other. The server1100 may provide a relay service to transmit and receive data betweenthe first terminal 1200 and the second terminals 1210 to 1240. Theserver 1100 may transmit data to the first terminal 1200 and the secondterminals 1210 to 1240 or receive data from the first terminal 1200 andthe second terminals 1210 to 1240, via the network.

The server 1100 may receive profile information from each of the firstterminal 1200 and the second terminals 1210 to 1240. The profileinformation may include (but is not limited to) at least one of apicture of each user, hobby information, nickname information, keyinformation, date of birth information, gender information, residentialarea information, and/or school information.

For example, a user of the first terminal 1200 may execute anapplication provided by the server 1100, and the first terminal 1200 mayreceive, from the server 1100, profile information about at least someof the users of the second terminals 1210 to 1240.

In other words, the user of the first terminal 1200 may be provided withprofiles of some of the users of the second terminals 1210 to 1240. Forexample, the user of the first terminal 1200 may generate a listincluding likable users among the users of the second terminals 1210 to1240, based on the provided profiles.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a terminal isprovided with profile information.

A first user of the first terminal 1200 may receive profile informationabout some of the users of the second terminals 1210 to 1240 from theserver 1100. For example, FIG. 2 may illustrate an example in whichprofile information 210 of a second user of the second terminal 1210among a plurality of pieces of profile information received from theserver 1100 is displayed on a display 200 of the first terminal 1200.The profile information 210 may include an image or a video including aface of the second user of the second terminal 1210, but embodiments arenot limited thereto.

For example, a like icon 220 and a dislike icon 230 may be displayed onthe display 200 of the first terminal 1200. The first user of the firstterminal 1200 may select one of the like icon 220 and the dislike icon230, based on the profile information 210 of the second user displayedon the display 200. The first user of the first terminal 1200 may selectthe like icon 220 when they want to proceed with a video call with thesecond user, and select the dislike icon 230 when they do not want toproceed with the video call with the second user.

Meanwhile, the first terminal 1200 may transmit, to the server 1100,information indicating that the first user has inputted a like signal,based on the profile information 210 of the second user. Also, thesecond terminal 1210 may receive, from the first terminal 1200 or server1100, information indicating that the first user of the first terminal1200 has inputted a dislike signal.

As described above, the like signal may be transmitted to the server1100 when the first user presses the like icon 220, but embodiments arenot limited thereto. For example, the like signal may be transmitted tothe server 1100 even when the first user swipes or drags the like icon220. Similarly, the dislike signal may be transmitted to the server 1100when the first user presses the dislike icon 230, but embodiments arenot limited thereto, and the dislike signal may be transmitted to theserver 1100 even when the first user swipes or drags the dislike icon230.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example in which matching betweenterminals is completed.

As described above with reference to FIG. 2, the server 1100 may receivethe like signal transmitted from the first terminal 1200, based on theprofile information about the second terminal 1210.

Similarly, profile information 310 of the first user of the firstterminal 1200 may be displayed on a display 300 of the second terminal1210. In addition, a like icon 320 and a dislike icon 330 may bedisplayed on the display 300 of the second terminal 1210. The seconduser of the second terminal 1210 may select the like icon 320 when theywant to proceed with a video call with the first user, and select thedislike icon 330 when they do not want to proceed with the video callwith the first user.

Also, the second terminal 1210 may transmit, to the server 1100,information indicating that the second user has inputted a like signal,based on the profile information 310 of the first user. As describedabove, the like signal may be transmitted to the server 1100 when thesecond user presses the like icon 320, but embodiments are not limitedthereto. For example, the like signal may be transmitted to the server1100 even when the second user swipes or drags the like icon 320.

Here, the server 1100 may determine that matching between the first userand the second user is completed, when the like signal transmitted bythe first terminal 1200, based on the profile information 210 of thesecond user, and the like signal transmitted by the second terminal1210, based on the profile information 310 of the first user, are bothreceived. In other words, the server 1100 may determine that thematching between the first user and the second user is not completed,when information indicating that the first user has selected the dislikeicon 230, based on the profile information 210 of the second user orinformation indicating that the second user has selected the dislikeicon 330, based on the profile information 310 of the first user, isreceived.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a call is made whenmatching between terminals is completed.

When the matching between the first user of the first terminal 1200 andthe second user of the second terminal 1210 is completed, the server1100 may provide a call service between the first terminal 1200 and thesecond terminal 1210. For example, when the matching between the firstuser of the first terminal 1200 and the second user of the secondterminal 1210 is completed, the first terminal 1200 or the secondterminal 1210 may automatically make a call. In other words, the callmay be automatically made even when the first user or the second userdoes not perform an input for making a call on the first terminal 1200or the second terminal 1210.

The second terminal 1210 may receive a first like signal transmittedfrom the first terminal 1200 to the server 1100. Also, the secondterminal 1210 may transmit, to the server 1100, a second like signalregarding the first user of the first terminal 1200. In this case, theserver 1100 may determine that the matching between the first user ofthe first terminal 1200 and the second user of the second terminal 1210is completed. Accordingly, the server 1100 may transmit a signal forestablishing a call connection between the first terminal 1200 and thesecond terminal 1210, to the first terminal 1200 or the second terminal1210.

Referring to FIG. 4, the second terminal 1210 may transmit a second likesignal to the first terminal 1200 after receiving the first like signal.In other words, the server 1100 may receive the second like signaltransmitted by the second terminal 1210 based on the profile information310 of the first user, after receiving the first like signal transmittedby the first terminal 1200 based on the profile information 210 of thesecond user. In this case, the server 1100 may automatically make (orinitiate) a call from the second terminal 1210 to the first terminal1200. For example, a call may be made from the second terminal 1210 tothe first terminal 1200 even when the second user of the second terminal1210 does not perform a separate operation for making a call.

Meanwhile, the first terminal 1200 may determine whether to accept acall automatically made from the second terminal 1210. When the firstterminal 1200 transmits, to the server 1100, a response accepting thecall, the call between the first terminal 1200 and the second terminal1210 may be performed. However, when the first terminal 1200 transmits,to the server 1100, a response rejecting the call or when the firstterminal 1200 does not respond, the call between the first terminal 1200and the second terminal 1210 may fail. However, since the first terminal1200 may store a list including users that the first terminal 1200 hastransmitted like signals to the server 1100 and users of the secondterminal 1210 may be included on the list, the first terminal 1200 maymake a call to the second terminal 1210 at any time. Similarly, sincethe first user of the first terminal 1200 is included on a list storedin the second terminal 1210, the second terminal 1210 may make a call tothe first terminal 1200 at any time.

Meanwhile, even when the first user of the first terminal 1200 is notconnected to an application provided by the server 1100, the firstterminal 1200 may receive a call made from the second terminal 1210.

As such, a call can be made automatically when matching between thefirst and second users is completed, and thus a burden of the first andsecond users having to directly call a counterpart may be eliminated.

When the server 1100 makes a call from the second terminal 1210 to thefirst terminal 1200, a preliminary call may be performed between thefirst user and the second user after a call waiting time has elapsed. Inother words, during and/or after the call waiting time has elapsed, thefirst user of the first terminal 1200 may determine whether to accept anincoming call, and when the first user of the first terminal 1200accepts the incoming call, the preliminary call may be connected betweenthe first user of the first terminal 1200 and the second user of thesecond terminal 1210.

The preliminary call may be performed before proceeding to a main callbetween the first user of the first terminal 1200 and the second user ofthe second terminal 1210. In other words, the preliminary call may beperformed before the first user and the second user determine whether toproceed with the main video call. For example, the preliminary call maycorrespond to a video call or a voice call relayed for a preset time.

The first user of the first terminal 1200 and the second user of thesecond terminal 1210 may determine whether to proceed with the main callafter the preliminary call ends.

For example, the preliminary call may correspond to a voice call and themain call may correspond to a video call. In other words, since it ispossible to determine whether to perform a video call through a voicecall before performing the video call, i.e., the main call, the firstand second users may feel less burdened in performing the video call. Inaddition, a conversion rate to the main call, i.e., the video call, maybe increased when the preliminary call is a voice call rather than avideo call. The present disclosure is not limited thereto, and thepreliminary call may correspond to a video call, and the main call mayalso correspond to a video call.

As such, a video call is made automatically when matching between thefirst and second users is completed, and thus a burden of the first andsecond users having to directly call a counterpart may be eliminated.

FIGS. 5A-5D illustrates examples of a graphical user interface displayedon a display of a terminal during a call waiting time.

As described above with reference to FIG. 4, the server 1100 mayautomatically make a call from the second terminal 1210 to the firstterminal 1200, when the like signal transmitted by the second terminal1210, based on the profile information 310 of the first user, isreceived after the like signal transmitted by the first terminal 1200,based on the profile information 210 of the second user, is received.

When a call is made from the second terminal 1210 to the first terminal1200, the call between the second user of the second terminal 1210 andthe first user of the first terminal 1200 may be connected during and/orafter the call waiting time has elapsed.

For example, the first user of the first terminal 1200 may determinewhether to accept an incoming call during and/or after the call waitingtime has elapsed. When the first user of the first terminal 1200 acceptsthe incoming call, the preliminary call may be connected between thefirst user of the first terminal 1200 and the second user of the secondterminal 1210, and when the first user of the first terminal 1200rejects the incoming call, the preliminary call between the first userof the first terminal 1200 and the second user of the second terminal1210 may not be connected.

During the call waiting time, a camera of each of the first terminal1200 and the second terminal 1210 may be activated. FIGS. 5A-5Dillustrates examples of a graphical user interface displayed on adisplay 500 of the second terminal 1210 during the call waiting time.

Referring to FIGS. 5A-5D, the camera of the second terminal 1210 may beactivated during the call waiting time, and an image of the second usercaptured by the camera may be displayed on the display 500 of the secondterminal 1210. Although not shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, an image of the firstuser captured by the camera of the first terminal 1200 may also bedisplayed on a display of the first terminal 1200. Accordingly, thefirst and second users may check their faces before a call is connected.

Also, the call waiting time may be sequentially counted down, and agraphical user interface in which the call waiting time is sequentiallycounted down may be displayed on the display 500 of the second terminal1210. Meanwhile, in FIGS. 5A-5D, the call waiting time is set to 10seconds, but embodiments are not limited thereto. When the call waitingtime is 10 seconds, the graphical user interface in which the callwaiting time is sequentially counted down from 10 to 1 may be displayedon the display 500 of the second terminal 1210. For example, thegraphical user interface counting down from 10 to 1 may be displayed onthe display 500 of the second terminal 1210 in units of 1 second, but inFIGS. 5A-5D, a time point at which a countdown of the call waiting timestarts, a time point at which 7 seconds remain, a time point at which 3seconds remain, and a time point at which the countdown ends are brieflyillustrated.

Also, as the call waiting time is sequentially counted down, visibilityof an image area 510 of the second user displayed on the display 500 ofthe second terminal 1210 may change. As the call waiting time issequentially counted down, a width or opacity of an area 520 covering atleast a part of the display 500 of the second terminal 1210 may change.In other words, as the area 520 covering at least a part of the display500 of the second terminal 1210 changes, the visibility of the imagearea 510 of the second user displayed on the display 500 may change.

For example, when the countdown of the call waiting time starts, thearea 520 covering at least a part of the display 500 of the secondterminal 1210 may cover all of the image area 510 of the second user. Asthe call waiting time is sequentially counted down, the area 520covering at least a part of the display 500 of the second terminal 1210may also gradually change. Accordingly, when the countdown of the callwaiting time ends, the area 520 covering at least a part of the display500 of the second terminal 1210 disappears, and the image area 510 ofthe second user may be completely revealed. The revelation of the imagearea 510 of the second user may provide various benefits, such as (butnot limited to) allowing for symmetry with the preliminary call,highlighting the countdown to help the user prepare, etc. In a number ofembodiments, the image area 510 of the second terminal 1210 may not becovered during the call waiting time.

For example, as the call waiting time is sequentially counted down, thewidth of the area 520 covering at least a part of the display 500 of thesecond terminal 1210 may gradually decrease, and the opacity of the area520 covering at least a part of the display 500 of the second terminal1210 may gradually decrease.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the width of the area 520 covering at least a partof the display 500 of the second terminal 1210 when the countdown of thecall waiting time starts may be the same as a width of the display 500of the second terminal 1210, and the opacity of the area 520 covering atleast a part of the display 500 of the second terminal 1210 may have apreset value enough to cover the image area 510 of the second user.

Referring to FIG. 5B, the width of the area 520 covering at least a partof the display 500 of the second terminal 1210 when 7 seconds remain forthe call waiting time may be set to be a value obtained by multiplying0.7 by the width of the display 500 of the second terminal 1210, and theopacity of the area 520 covering at least a part of the display 500 ofthe second terminal 1210 may be set to be a value obtained bymultiplying 0.7 by the preset value enough to cover the image area 510of the second user.

Also, referring to FIG. 5C, the width of the area 520 covering at leasta part of the display 500 of the second terminal 1210 when 3 secondsremain for the call waiting time may be set to be a value obtained bymultiplying 0.3 by the width of the display 500 of the second terminal1210, and the opacity of the area 520 covering at least a part of thedisplay 500 of the second terminal 1210 may be set to be a valueobtained by multiplying 0.3 by the preset value enough to cover theimage area 510 of the second user.

Referring to FIG. 5D, when the call waiting time ends, the area 520covering at least a part of the display 500 of the second terminal 1210disappears, and the image area 510 of the second user may be completelyrevealed.

As described above, the width of the area 520 covering at least a partof the display 500 of the second terminal 1210 may be determined to be avalue obtained by multiplying the width of the display 500 of the secondterminal 1210 by a certain ratio. For example, the certain ratio may beset to be a value obtained by dividing a remaining call waiting time bythe call waiting time as the countdown proceeds, but embodiments are notlimited thereto. Similarly, the opacity of the area 520 covering atleast a part of the display 500 of the second terminal 1210 may bedetermined to be a value obtained by multiplying preset opacity by acertain ratio. Here, the preset opacity may be set to be a value enoughto completely cover the image area 510 of the second user, and thecertain ratio may be set to be a value obtained by dividing theremaining call waiting time by the call waiting time as the countdownproceeds, but are not limited thereto.

Meanwhile, the image of the first user may also be displayed on thedisplay of the first terminal 1200 during the call waiting time, and achange in an area covering at least a part of the graphical userinterface of the first terminal 1200 as the call waiting time issequentially counted may be the same as described above.

FIG. 6 illustrates another example of a graphical user interfacedisplayed on a display of a terminal during a call waiting time.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a graphical user interface displayed ona display 600 of the first terminal 1200 when a call is made from thesecond terminal 1210 to the first terminal 1200.

First, when the call is made from the second terminal 1210 to the firstterminal 1200, the display 600 of the first terminal 1200 may display amessage window 610 indicating that the call is made from the second userof the second terminal 1210.

After the message window 610 indicating that the call is made from thesecond user of the second terminal 1210 is displayed, the camera of thefirst terminal 1200 may be activated. The display 600 of the firstterminal 1200 may display an image of the first user captured by thecamera, and at the same time, a graphical user interface in which thecall waiting time is sequentially counted down may be displayed. Thegraphical user interface in which the call waiting time is sequentiallycounted down may be the same as described above with reference to FIG.4.

A message window 620 inquiring whether to accept the call with thesecond user of the second terminal 1210 may be displayed on the display600 of the first terminal 1200, during and/or after the call waitingtime ends.

When the first user of the first terminal 1200 selects a buttonaccepting an incoming call, a preliminary call between the first user ofthe first terminal 1200 and the second user of the second terminal 1210may be connected. When the first user of the first terminal 1200 selectsa button rejecting the incoming call, the preliminary call between thefirst user of the first terminal 1200 and the second user of the secondterminal 1210 may not be connected.

For example, when the first user of the first terminal 1200 selects thebutton accepting the incoming call, the server 1100 may relay thepreliminary call between the first terminal 1200 and the second terminal1210 fora preset time.

After the preset time during which the preliminary call is relayed haselapsed, the server 1100 may receive a response as to whether to performa main call from the first user of the first terminal 1200 and thesecond user of the second terminal 1210, to determine whether to proceedwith the main call.

Meanwhile, a first graphical user interface displayed on a display ofeach of the first terminal 1200 and the second terminal 1210 while thepreliminary call is in progress may be different from a second graphicaluser interface displayed on the display of each of the first terminal1200 and the second terminal 1210 while the main call is in progress.The first graphical user interface displayed on the display of each ofthe first terminal 1200 and the second terminal 1210 while thepreliminary call is in progress will be described with reference toFIGS. 7A-7D below.

FIGS. 7A-7D illustrates examples of a graphical user interface displayedon a display of a terminal while a preliminary call is in progress.

While the preliminary call is in progress, the display of each of thefirst terminal 1200 and the second terminal 1210 may display an imagearea of a user of a counterpart terminal performing the preliminary calland a blocking area covering at least a part of the image area. Forexample, the blocking area may change as a preset time during which thepreliminary call is relayed elapses, and visibility of the image area ofthe user of the counterpart terminal may change based on the blockingarea.

For example, the camera of each of the first terminal 1200 and thesecond terminal 1210 may be activated during the preset time duringwhich the preliminary call is proceeded. An image of the second usercaptured by the camera of the second terminal 1210 may be displayed onthe display of the first terminal 1200, and an image of the first usercaptured by the camera of the first terminal 1200 may be displayed onthe display of the second terminal 1210. FIGS. 7A-7D illustratesexamples of a graphical user interface displayed on a display 700 of thesecond terminal 1210 for a preset time.

Referring to FIGS. 7A-7D, the preset time may be sequentially counteddown, and a graphical user interface in which the preset time issequentially counted down may be displayed on the display 700 of thesecond terminal 1210. Meanwhile, in FIGS. 7A-7D, the preset time is setto be 30 seconds, but embodiments are not limited thereto. When thepreset time is 30 seconds, the graphical user interface in which thepreset time is sequentially counted down from 30 to 1 may be displayedon the display 700 of the second terminal 1210. For example, thegraphical user interface counting down from 30 to 1 may be displayed onthe display 700 of the second terminal 1210 in units of 1 second, but inFIGS. 7A-7D, a time point at which a countdown of the preset timestarts, a time point at which 15 seconds remain, a time point at which 3seconds remain, and a time point at which the countdown ends are brieflyillustrated.

Also, as the preset time is sequentially counted down, visibility of animage area 710 of the first user displayed on the display 700 of thesecond terminal 1210 may change. As the preset time is sequentiallycounted down, a width or opacity of a blocking area 720 covering atleast a part of the display 700 of the second terminal 1210 may change.In other words, as the blocking area 720 covering at least a part of thedisplay 700 of the second terminal 1210 changes, the visibility of theimage area 710 of the first user displayed on the display 700 maychange.

For example, the image area 710 of the first user may be completelyrevealed when the countdown of the preset time starts. As the presettime is sequentially counted down, the blocking area 720 covering atleast a part of the display 700 of the second terminal 1210 may alsogradually change. Accordingly, when the countdown of the preset timeends, the blocking area 720 covering at least a part of the display 700of the second terminal 1210 may completely cover the image area 710 ofthe first user.

For example, as the preset time is sequentially counted down, the widthof the blocking area 720 covering at least a part of the display 700 ofthe second terminal 1210 may gradually increase. Alternatively orconjunctively, the opacity of the blocking area 720 covering at least apart of the display 700 of the second terminal 1210 may graduallyincrease.

Referring to FIG. 7A, the image area 710 of the first user may becompletely revealed when the countdown of the preset time starts.

Referring to FIG. 7B, the width of the blocking area 720 covering atleast a part of the display 700 of the second terminal 1210 when 15seconds remain for the preset time may be set to be a value obtained bymultiplying 0.5 by the width of the display 700 of the second terminal1210, and the opacity of the blocking area 720 covering at least a partof the display 700 of the second terminal 1210 may be set to be a valueobtained by multiplying 0.5 by a preset value enough to cover the imagearea 710 of the first user.

Also, referring to FIG. 7C, the width of the blocking area 720 coveringat least a part of the display 700 of the second terminal 1210 when 3seconds remain for the preset time may be set to be a value obtained bymultiplying 0.9 by the width of the display 700 of the second terminal1210, and the opacity of the blocking area 720 covering at least a partof the display 700 of the second terminal 1210 may be set to be a valueobtained by multiplying 0.9 by the preset value enough to cover theimage area 710 of the first user.

Also, referring to FIG. 7D, the width of the blocking area 720 coveringat least a part of the display 700 of the second terminal 1210 when thepreset time ends may be set to be the same as the width of the display700 of the second terminal 1210, and the opacity of the blocking area720 covering at least a part of the display 700 of the second terminal1210 may be set to be the same as the preset value enough to cover theimage area 710 of the first user.

As described above, the width of the blocking area 720 covering at leasta part of the display 700 of the second terminal 1210 may be determinedto be a value obtained by multiplying the width of the display 700 ofthe second terminal 1210 by a certain ratio. For example, the certainratio may be set to be a value obtained by dividing a time elapsed asthe countdown starts by the preset time, but embodiments are not limitedthereto. Similarly, the opacity of the blocking area 720 covering atleast a part of the display 700 of the second terminal 1210 may bedetermined to be a value obtained by multiplying preset opacity by acertain ratio. Here, the preset opacity may be set to be a value enoughto completely cover the image area 710 of the first user, and thecertain ratio may be set to be a value obtained by dividing the timeelapsed as the countdown starts by the preset time, but are not limitedthereto.

An image of the second user of the second terminal 1210 may also bedisplayed on a display of the first terminal 1200 for the preset time,and a change in an area covering at least a part of the display of thefirst terminal 1200 as the preset time is sequentially counted may bethe same as described above.

As described above, because a face of a counterpart is gradually hiddenon a graphical user interface of a terminal as a preset time issequentially counted down, a burden of a user when determining whetherto proceed with a main call after a preliminary call ends may berelieved.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 7D, after the preset time has elapsed, thedisplay 700 of the second terminal 1210 may display a message window 730requesting a response as to whether to proceed with the main call withthe first user. Also, after the preset time has elapsed, a messagewindow requesting a response as to whether to proceed with the main callwith the second user may also be displayed on a display of the firstterminal 1200. The responses of the first user and the second user maybe transmitted to the server 1100, and the server 1100 may or may notproceed with the main call, based on the responses.

For example, the server 1100 may proceed with the main call when aresponse accepting to proceed with the main call is received from eachof the first terminal 1200 and the second terminal 1210. Also, theserver 1100 may not proceed with the main call when the responserejecting to proceed with the main call is received from the firstterminal 1200 or the second terminal 1210.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating processes in which a video call is madein a system including the first terminal 1200, the server 1100, and thesecond terminal 1210, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, in operation 801, the server 1100 may transmitprofile information about the second user of the second terminal 1210 tothe first terminal 1200. Also, in operation 802, the server 1100 maytransmit profile information about the first user of the first terminal1200 to the second terminal 1210.

In operation 803, the first user of the first terminal 1200 may click ona like icon, based on the profile information about the second user.When the first user of the first terminal 1200 clicks the like icon, theserver 1100 may receive information, from the first terminal 1200,indicating that the first user has selected the like icon based on theprofile information about the second user.

Also, in operation 804, the second user of the second terminal 1210 mayclick on a like icon, based on the profile information about the firstuser. When the second user of the second terminal 1210 clicks the likeicon, the server 1100 may receive information, from the second terminal1210, indicating that the second user has selected the like icon basedon the profile information about the first user. The server 1100 maydetermine that matching between the first user and the second user iscompleted, when both the information indicating that the first user hasselected the like icon based on the profile information about the seconduser and the information indicating that the second user has selectedthe like icon based on the profile information about the first user arereceived.

In operation 805, the server 1100 may automatically make (or initiate) acall from the second terminal 1210 to the first terminal 1200. In otherwords, the server 1100 may automatically make a video call to the firstterminal 1200 even when the second user does not perform an input forperforming a video call.

When the video call is automatically made from the second terminal 1210to the first terminal 1200, a message window informing the first userthat the video call is made from the second user of the second terminal1210 may be displayed on a display of the first terminal 1200. In thecase where the video call is automatically made from the second terminal1210 to the first terminal 1200, a video call may be connected betweenthe second user and the first user after a call waiting time haselapsed. The video call waiting time may be sequentially counted down,and a graphical user interface in which the video call waiting time issequentially counted down may be displayed on displays of the firstterminal 1200 and second terminal 1210.

In operation 806, the first terminal 1200 may accept the call duringand/or after the call waiting time ends. For example, a message windowinquiring whether to accept the video call with the second user of thesecond terminal 1210 may be displayed on the display of the firstterminal 1200, during and/or after the video call waiting time ends.

In operation 807, the server 1100 may set a time for relaying the videocall between the first terminal 1200 and the second terminal 1210. Forexample, the server 1100 may relay the video call only for the set time,and determine whether to proceed with the video call after the set timehas elapsed.

In operation 808, the server 1100 may set a blocking area that changesas the set time is sequentially counted down. For example, the server1100 may set a width and opacity of an area that changes as the set timeis sequentially counted down. The blocking area may correspond to anarea covering at least a part of the display of each of the firstterminal 1200 and the second terminal 1210. The width of the blockingarea may increase as the set time is sequentially counted down, and theopacity of the blocking area may increase as the set time issequentially counted down. For example, the width of the blocking areamay be determined as a value obtained by multiplying a width of thedisplay by a certain ratio. The certain ratio may be determined as avalue obtained by dividing a time during which a countdown has beenperformed by a countdown time, but embodiments are not limited thereto.Similarly, the opacity of the blocking area may be determined as a valueobtained by multiplying preset opacity by a certain ratio. The certainratio may be determined as a value obtained by dividing a time duringwhich a countdown has been performed by a countdown time, butembodiments are not limited thereto.

In operation 809, the server 1100 may output the blocking area to thedisplays of the first terminal 1200 and the second terminal 1210. Forexample, the server 1100 may output the blocking area based on the setwidth and opacity, on the displays of the first terminal 1200 and thesecond terminal 1210. As the blocking area is output to the displays ofthe first terminal 1200 and the second terminal 1210 based on thedetermined width and opacity, visibility of an image area of the seconduser displayed on the display of the first terminal 1200 may change, andvisibility of an image area of the first user displayed on the displayof the second terminal 1210 may change.

In operation 810, the server 1100 may output a message window inquiringwhether to continue a video call on the displays of the first terminal1200 and the second terminal 1210 after the set time has elapsed.

In operation 811, the first terminal 1200 may transmit, to the server1100, a response accepting or rejecting to continue the video call.Also, in operation 812, the second terminal 1210 may transmit, to theserver 1100, a response accepting or rejecting to continue the videocall.

In operation 813, the server 1100 may extend or end the video call basedon the received response. For example, the server 1100 may extend thevideo call when the response accepting to continue the video call isreceived from each of the first terminal 1200 and the second terminal1210. In an embodiment, the server 1100 may end the video call when theresponse rejecting to continue the video call is received from the firstterminal 1200 or the second terminal 1210.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of visually displaying acountdown time on a graphical user interface according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, in operation 910, the server 1100 may set a timethat is counted down as a video call between the first terminal and thesecond terminal proceeds. When the server 1100 determines that matchingbetween the first user of the first terminal and the second user of thesecond terminal is completed, the server 1100 may relay the video callbetween the first terminal and the second terminal for a preset time.

For example, the server 1100 may determine that matching between thefirst user and the second user is completed, when a like signaltransmitted by the first terminal, based on profile information aboutthe second user of the second terminal, and a like signal transmitted bythe second terminal, based on profile information 310 of the first userof the first terminal, are both received. That is, the server 1100 maydetermine that matching between the first user and the second user isnot completed, when the information indicating that the first user hasselected the dislike icon based on the profile information about thesecond user or the information indicating that the second user hasselected the dislike icon based on the profile information about thefirst user, is received.

In this case, the server 1100 may relay the video call between the firstterminal and the second terminal only for a preset time. During thepreset time, the camera of each of the first terminal and the secondterminal may be activated. An image of the second user captured by thecamera of the second terminal may be displayed on the display of thefirst terminal, and an image of the first user captured by the camera ofthe first terminal may be displayed on the display of the secondterminal.

During the preset time, a graphical user interface in which the presettime is sequentially counted down may be displayed on each of the firstterminal and the second terminal. As the preset time is sequentiallycounted down, visibility of an image area of the second user displayedon the display of the first terminal may change, and visibility of animage area of the first user displayed on the display of the secondterminal may change.

In operation 920, the server 1100 may set a blocking area that changesas the set time is sequentially counted down.

The blocking area may correspond to an area covering at least a part ofthe display of each of the first terminal and the second terminal. Theserver 1100 may set a width of the blocking area, which changes as theset time is sequentially counted down. For example, as the preset timeis sequentially counted down, the width of a first area that covers atleast a part of the graphical user interface of the first terminal maybe increased, and the width of a second area that covers at least a partof the graphical user interface of the second terminal may be increased.

The width of the first area is determined as a value obtained bymultiplying the width of the graphical user interface of the firstterminal by a first ratio, and the first ratio may be determined as avalue obtained by dividing the time during which the countdown has beenperformed by the preset time. Likewise, the width of the second area isdetermined as a value obtained by multiplying the width of the graphicaluser interface of the second terminal by a first ratio, and the firstratio may be determined as a value obtained by dividing the time duringwhich the countdown has been performed by the preset time.

In an embodiment, the server 1100 may set an opacity of the blockingarea, which changes as the set time is sequentially counted down. Forexample, as the preset time is sequentially counted down, the opacity ofa first area that covers at least a part of the display of the firstterminal may be increased, and the opacity of a second area that coversat least a part of the display of the second terminal may be increased.

The opacity of the first area may be determined as a value obtained bymultiplying a preset opacity by a second ratio, and the second ratio maybe determined as a value obtained by dividing a time during which acountdown has been performed by a preset time. The opacity of the secondarea may be determined as a value obtained by multiplying a presetopacity by a second ratio, and the second ratio may be determined as avalue obtained by dividing a time during which a countdown has beenperformed by a preset time. The preset opacity may correspond to anopacity enough to completely cover the image area of the second userdisplayed on the display of the first terminal.

In operation 930, the server 1100 may output the blocking area on thegraphical user interface of each of the first terminal and the secondterminal.

The server 1100 may output the first area covering at least a part ofthe graphical user interface of the first terminal on the graphical userinterface of the first terminal based on the width and opacity whichhave been set. The server 1100 may output the second area covering atleast a part of the graphical user interface of the second terminal onthe graphical user interface of the second terminal based on the widthand opacity which have been set.

After the preset time has elapsed, the server 1100 may display a messagewindow requesting a response to whether to continue the video call onthe graphical user interface of the first terminal and the graphicaluser interface of the second terminal. The server 1100 may extend thevideo call when receiving a response corresponding to accepting thecontinuation of the video call from each of the first user of the firstterminal and the second user of the second terminal. In an embodiment,when receiving a response corresponding to rejecting the continuation ofthe video call from the first user or the second user, the server 1100may end the video call.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a block diagram of the server 1100.

Referring to FIG. 10, the server 1100 may include a communication unit1010, a processor 1020, and a storage unit 1030. The server 1100 of FIG.10 may be the same as the server 1100 of FIG. 1. Only components relatedto an embodiment are shown for the server 1100 of FIG. 10. Accordingly,it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art thatgeneral-purpose components other than those shown in FIG. 10 may befurther included.

The communication unit 1010 may include one or more components enablingwired/wireless communication with a terminal. For example, thecommunication unit 1010 may include a short-range wireless communicationunit (not shown), a mobile communication unit (not shown), and abroadcast receiver (not shown).

The storage unit 1030 is hardware storing various types of dataprocessed in the server 1100, and may store a program for processes andcontrols by the processor 1020.

The storage unit 1030 may include random access memory (RAM) such asdynamic random access memory (DRAM) or static random access memory(SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmableread-only memory (EEPROM), CD-ROM, Blu-ray or another optical diskstorage, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or a flashmemory.

The processor 1020 controls overall operations of the server 1100. Forexample, the processor 1020 may generally control an input unit (notshown), a display (not shown), the communication unit 1010, and thestorage unit 1030, by executing programs stored in the storage unit1030. The processor 1020 may control operation of the server 1100 byexecuting programs stored in the storage unit 1030.

The processor 1020 may be implemented by using at least one of anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signalprocessor (DSP), a digital signal processing device (DSPD), aprogrammable logic device (PLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA),a controller, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, or another electricalunit for performing functions.

The server 1100 may communicate with at least one user terminal throughthe communication unit 1010.

The communication unit 1010 may receive, from at least one terminal,information indicating that a like icon or a dislike icon is selectedbased on profile information about a user of another terminal. Theprocessor 1020 may determine that matching between a first user and asecond user is completed, when the communication unit 1010 receives bothinformation indicating that the first user has selected a like iconbased on profile information of the second user and informationindicating that the second user has selected a like icon based onprofile information of the first user.

The processor 1020 may relay a video call between a first terminal and asecond terminal for a certain period of time, based on the matching. Theprocessor 1020 may set a time for relaying the video call, and mayperform a countdown for the set time. The processor 1020 may determine awidth of an area that changes as a preset time is sequentially counteddown, and may determine an opacity of the area that changes as thepreset time is sequentially counted down. The processor 1020 may outputthe area on a graphical user interface of each of the first terminal andthe second terminal, based on the determined width and opacity.

The communication unit 1010 may receive, from each of the first terminaland the second terminal, a response as to whether to continue the videocall after the preset time has elapsed.

The processor 1020 may determine whether to extend the video call evenafter the preset time has elapsed, based on the received responses. Theprocessor 1020 may extend the video call when a response correspondingto accepting the continuation of the video call is received from each ofthe first terminal and the second terminal. Also, when receiving aresponse rejecting whether to continue the video call from the firstterminal or the second terminal, the processor 1020 may end the videocall.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure described above, byrelaying a video call between users only for a preset time anddetermining whether to continue the video call after the preset time,burdens of the users regarding the video call may be relieved.

Also, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, because aface of a counterpart is gradually hidden on a graphical user interfaceof a terminal as a preset time is sequentially counted down, a burden ofa user when determining whether to continue a video call may berelieved.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented assoftware (for example, a program) including one or more instructionsstored in a machine-readable storage medium. For example, a processor ofthe machine may invoke and execute at least one of the one or moreinstructions stored from the storage medium. Accordingly, the machine isenabled to operate to perform at least one function according to the atleast one invoked instruction. The one or more instructions may includecode generated by a compiler or code executable by an interpreter. Themachine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of anon-transitory storage medium. Here, ‘non-transitory’ only means thatthe storage medium is a tangible device and does not contain a signal(for example, electromagnetic waves). This term does not distinguish acase where data is stored in the storage medium semi-permanently and acase where the data is stored in the storage medium temporarily.

According to an embodiment, a method according to various embodiments ofthe present disclosure may be provided by being included in a computerprogram product. The computer program product is a product that can betraded between sellers and buyers. The computer program product may bedistributed in a form of machine-readable storage medium (for example, acompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)), or distributed through anapplication store (for example, Play Store™) or directly or onlinebetween two user devices (for example, download or upload). In the caseof online distribution, at least a part of the computer program productmay be temporarily stored or temporarily generated in themachine-readable storage medium such as a server of a manufacturer, aserver of an application store, or a memory of a relay server.

Furthermore, in the specification, the term “unit” may be a hardwarecomponent such as a processor or circuit and/or a software componentthat is executed by a hardware component such as a processor.

The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claimsrather than the detailed description, and all changes or modificationswithin the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents will beconstrued as being included in the scope of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An operation method of a first terminal, theoperation method comprising: receiving, from a server, a request forestablishing a communication connection between the first terminal and asecond terminal; receiving, from the server, a countdown time that iscounted down as a video call proceeds; receiving, from the server,information on a blocking area that changes as the countdown timesequentially elapses; and outputting the blocking area on a graphicaluser interface of the first terminal according to the receivedinformation.
 2. The operation method of claim 1, wherein as the blockingarea changes, the visibility of the image area output on the graphicaluser interface of the first terminal changes.
 3. The operation method ofclaim 1, wherein when the countdown time has elapsed, an image, to whicha response to whether to continue the video call is input, is output onthe graphical user interface of the first terminal.
 4. The operationmethod of claim 1, wherein a width of the blocking area is increased asthe preset time is sequentially counted down.
 5. The operation method ofclaim 4, wherein the width of the blocking area is determined bymultiplying a width of the graphical user interface of the firstterminal by a first ratio, and the first ratio is obtained by dividingthe time during which a countdown has been performed by the countdowntime.
 6. The operation method of claim 1, wherein an opacity of theblocking area is increased as the countdown time is sequentially counteddown.
 7. The operation method of claim 6, wherein the opacity of theblocking area is determined as a value obtained by multiplying a presetopacity by a second ratio, and the second ratio is determined as a valueobtained by dividing the time during which a countdown has beenperformed by the countdown time.
 8. The operation method of claim 2,wherein the image area includes an image of a second user of the secondterminal.
 9. The operation method of claim 2, wherein the image areaincludes an image of a first user of the first terminal.
 10. Acomputer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program forexecuting, on a computer, the operation method of claim
 1. 11. A firstterminal supporting a video call, the first terminal comprising: acommunication unit configured to: receive, from a server, a request forestablishing a communication connection between the first terminal andthe second terminal; receive, from the server, a countdown time as thevideo call proceeds; receive, from the server, information on a blockingarea that changes as the countdown time sequentially elapses, and aprocessor configured to output the blocking area on a graphical userinterface of the first terminal according to the received information.12. The terminal of claim 11, wherein as the blocking area changes, thevisibility of a first image area displayed on the graphical userinterface of the first terminal changes.
 13. The terminal of claim 11,wherein when the countdown time has elapsed, an image, to which aresponse to whether to continue the video call is input, is output onthe graphical user interface of the first terminal.
 14. A device forcontrolling a graphical user interface of a terminal, the devicecomprising: a memory storing at least one program; and at least oneprocessor for executing the at least one program to relay a video call,wherein the at least one processor is configured to set a countdown timeas a video call between a first terminal and a second terminal proceeds,set a blocking area that changes as the preset time is sequentiallycounted down, and communicate with the first terminal and the secondterminal so that the blocking area is output on a graphical userinterface of each of the first terminal and the second terminal.
 15. Thedevice of claim 14, wherein as the blocking area changes, the visibilityof a first image area displayed on the graphical user interface of thefirst terminal and the visibility of a second image area displayed onthe graphical user interface of the second terminal change.